A heating control method for a thermal printer combining heating time grading and data cross-combination

Abstract

The present invention discloses a heating control method for a thermal printer that utilizes a tiered heating time and data cross-combination. The method comprises: dividing the heating time into three levels. When the heating time of a heating segment in a current row reaches a corresponding level, the heating time of the current row heating segment is evenly divided into corresponding equal parts to obtain the total number of heating segments and the final heating time for each segment of data. Based on the number of heating segments in the current row and the final total number of segments, the different segments of data are cross-combined and cyclically heated until all heating segments of data are heated. The heating control method provided by the present invention ensures print quality and protects the life of the print head without sacrificing printing speed, thereby enhancing the user experience and being suitable for further promotion and application.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of thermal printing, and in particular to a heating control method of a thermal printer combining heating time grading and data cross-combination. Background Art

[0002] A thermal printer is a printing device that forms an image by heating specific heat-sensitive materials. Due to its fast printing speed, low noise, and simple structure, it is widely used in various fields such as receipt printing, label printing, and portable printing devices. The core component of a thermal printer is the thermal print head, which contains multiple heating elements. These elements are heated by an electric current during the printing process, forming an image on the thermal paper.

[0003] In practice, due to the maximum number of simultaneous heating points in thermal printers, existing thermal printing control methods typically divide a line of heated data into one or more segments based on the maximum number of heating points supported by the thermal printer. This ensures that the number of heating points in each segment does not exceed the maximum number of heating points supported by the thermal printer. When printing each line of data, the thermal printer calculates the number of segments required for heating the current line based on the maximum number of heating points supported by the printer. Each segment is then fed into the thermal printer's print head for heating. After all data segments in the current line have been heated, the printer rests for a period of time to allow the thermal printer head to fully dissipate heat before heating the next line of data. This ensures print quality and protects the life of the print head.

[0004] Although this heating method can ensure print quality and protect the life of the print head to a certain extent, the heating time for each heating data segment is concentrated in one heating. When the heating time is relatively long, the temperature of the heating point on the print head will be relatively high, which may affect the print quality and the life of the print head.

[0005] To solve this problem, the current approach is to increase the rest time to allow the print head to fully dissipate heat. However, as the rest time becomes longer, the printing speed becomes slower, thus affecting the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a heating control method for a thermal printer that combines heating time grading and data cross-combination, which can ensure printing quality and protect the life of the print head without sacrificing printing speed.

[0007] In order to achieve the above technical objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0008] A heating control method for a thermal printer combining heating time grading and data cross-combination, comprising:

[0009] 1) Divide the heating time into three levels. When the heating time of the current row heating segment reaches the corresponding level, divide the heating time of the current row heating segment into corresponding equal parts to obtain the total number of heating segments and the final heating time of each segment of data;

[0010] 2) According to the total number of heating sections and the final heating time of each section of data, different sections of data are cross-combined and cyclically heated until all heating sections of data are heated.

[0011] As a possible implementation, further, step 1) specifically includes the following steps:

[0012] 1.1): According to the total number of heating points of the current row of heating data and the maximum number of heating points supported by the thermal printer for single simultaneous heating, the heating data of the current row is divided into N segments, and the heating time T of each segment of heating data is obtained;

[0013] 1.2): Compare the heating time T with a preset heating time level K1. If the heating time T exceeds the preset heating time level K1, divide the heating time of each heating data segment in the N heating data segments into four equal parts, and finally obtain a total number of heating segments C = 4 × N, where the heating time of each heating data segment is T / 4, and then execute step 2);

[0014] If T does not exceed the preset heating time level K1, then go to step 1.3);

[0015] 1.3): Compare the heating time T with the preset heating time level 2 K2. If the heating time T exceeds the preset heating time level 2 K2, divide the heating time of each heating data segment in the N heating data segments into two equal parts, and finally obtain a total number of heating segments C = 2 × N, where the heating time of each heating data segment is T / 2, and then execute step 2);

[0016] If T does not exceed the preset heating time level 2 K2, each segment of data will be heated for time T in sequence until all N segments of heating data are heated.

[0017] As a possible implementation, further, step 2) specifically includes the following steps:

[0018] 2.1) When N=1, heat one section of data and then dissipate heat for a preset time, then heat another section of data and then dissipate heat for a preset time, and repeat this cycle until all the heating sections (C) are heated;

[0019] 2.2) When N>1, the following cases are included:

[0020] a) If N is an odd number and N=3, then heat data segment 1, then heat data segment 2, then heat data segment 3, and then return to data segment 1, and so on, cross-circulating heating until all the heating segments (C) are heated;

[0021] b) If N is an odd number and N>3, first heat the two adjacent segments of data in a cross-cycle manner. Then the last 3 segments of data are heated in a cross-cycle manner. times, until the total number of heating sections C are heated;

[0022] c) If N is an even number, the two adjacent segments of data are heated in a cross-cycle manner. times, until the total number of heating sections C are heated.

[0023] As a possible implementation, further, in step 1.1), the heating data of the current row is divided into N segments of data, where N is expressed as follows:

[0024] N=(active_dots[PLACE2]+max_dot_num-1) / max_dot_num;

[0025] Where max_dot_num represents the maximum number of heating points supported by the thermal printer for simultaneous heating; active_dots[PLACE2] represents the total number of heating points in the current row of heating data;

[0026] In N segments of data, the number of heating points in each segment is M, and the expression of M is as follows:

[0027] M=(active_dots[PLACE2]+N-1) / N.

[0028] As a preferred embodiment, preferably, the second heating time level K2 = t, and the first heating time level K1 = 2t; wherein, t is the critical time that causes the print head to overheat and affects the printing effect and the life of the print head.

[0029] Based on the above, the present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which at least one instruction, at least one program, code set or instruction set is stored. The at least one instruction, at least one program, code set or instruction set is loaded and executed by a processor to implement the heating control method of the above-mentioned thermal printer with heating time grading and data cross-combination.

[0030] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:

[0031] The present invention uses three preset heating time periods to address the situation where a long heating time may affect the print quality and the life of the print head. Different cross-combination heating methods are used according to the number of heating segments N, so that the heating time of each heating data segment is kept within a reasonable range. Without affecting the printing speed, the print quality and the life of the print head are guaranteed, and the user experience is improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0033] Figure 1 It is a simplified flow chart of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the heating process when the number of heating sections N = 1;

[0035] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the heating process when the number of heating sections N = 3;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the heating process when the number of heating sections N is an odd number greater than 3;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the heating process when the number of heating sections N is an even number. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. It is particularly noted that the following examples are intended only to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Similarly, the following examples are only some embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to be exhaustive. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are intended to fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0039] This embodiment provides a heating control method for a thermal printer that combines heating time grading and data cross-combination, including: dividing the heating time into three levels; when the heating time of the current row heating segment reaches the corresponding level, dividing the heating time of the current row heating segment into corresponding equal parts to obtain the total number of heating segments and the final heating time of each segment of data; then, based on the current row heating segment number and the final total number of segments, cross-combining and cyclically heating different segments of data until all heating segment data are heated.

[0040] Refer to the attached Figure 1As shown, the heating control method of the thermal printer using the heating time classification and data cross combination in this embodiment specifically includes the following steps:

[0041] 1) Based on the total number of heating points in the current row of heating data and the maximum number of heating points supported by the thermal printer for simultaneous heating, the current row of heating data is evenly divided into N segments, and the heating time T for each segment of heating data is obtained. The heating time T is related to the number of heating points (generally, the more heating points, the longer the heating time). After obtaining the heating point number data, the existing thermal printer can automatically calculate the corresponding heating time T. Since this embodiment "evenly divides" the total heating point data in the current row into N segments, the number of heating points in each segment of heating data is the same, and therefore the heating time T for each segment of heating data is also the same.

[0042] In this embodiment, the expression of N is as follows:

[0043] N=(active_dots[PLACE2]+max_dot_num-1) / max_dot_num;

[0044] Where max_dot_num represents the maximum number of heating points supported by the thermal printer for simultaneous heating; active_dots[PLACE2] represents the total number of heating points in the current row of heating data;

[0045] In N segments of data, the number of heating points in each segment is M, and the expression of M is as follows:

[0046] M=(active_dots[PLACE2]+N-1) / N.

[0047] 2) Compare the heating time T with the preset heating time level K1, where heating time level K1 = 2t, where t is the critical time (t obtained through experiments) that causes the print head to overheat and affects the printing effect and the life of the print head.

[0048] If the heating time T exceeds the preset heating time level K1, the heating time of each heating data segment in the N heating data segments is evenly divided into four equal parts, and the total number of heating segments is finally obtained as C = 4 × N, where the heating time of each heating data segment is T / 4, and then step 4 is executed;

[0049] If T does not exceed the preset heating time level K1, then execute step 3);

[0050] 3) Compare the heating time T with the preset heating time level 2 K2, where K2 = t, where t is the critical time (obtained through experiments) that causes the print head to overheat, affecting the printing effect and the life of the print head.

[0051] If the heating time T exceeds the preset heating time level 2 K2, the heating time of each heating data segment in the N heating data segments is evenly divided into two equal parts, and the total number of heating segments is finally obtained as C = 2 × N, where the heating time of each heating data segment is T / 2, and then step 4 is executed;

[0052] If T does not exceed the preset heating time level 2 K2, it indicates that the current heating time T of the data to be heated is within a reasonable range and will not cause overheating of the print head to affect the printing effect and the life of the print head. Each piece of data can be directly heated in sequence for the time T in the existing method until all N pieces of heated data are heated.

[0053] 4) When N=1, the heating section is followed by a rest period for cooling, and then another section is heated and then a rest period is followed by a rest period, and this cycle is repeated until the total number of heating sections C is heated (see attached). Figure 2 shown).

[0054] When N>1, the following situations are included:

[0055] a) If N is an odd number and N=3, then heat the data segment 1, then heat the data segment 2, then heat the data segment 3, and then return to the data segment 1, and heat in this cross-cycle until the total number of heating segments C are all heated (see the attached figure). Figure 3 shown).

[0056] b) If N is an odd number and N>3, first heat the two adjacent segments of data in a cross-cycle manner. Then the last 3 segments of data are heated in a cross-cycle manner. For ease of understanding, an example is provided here to illustrate. For example, when N=7 and C=14, the adjacent two segments of data are first heated in a cross-cycle manner. Then the last 3 segments are heated twice in a cross-cycle until all 14 segments are heated (see attached). Figure 4 shown).

[0057] c) If N is an even number, the two adjacent segments of data are heated in a cross-cycle manner. For ease of understanding, an example is provided here to illustrate. For example, when N=6 and C=12, two adjacent segments of data are heated in a cross-cycle manner. Until all 12 segments of data are heated (see attached Figure 5 shown).

[0058] In addition, the functional units in various embodiments of the present invention may be integrated into a single processing unit, each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0059] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the various embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0060] The above descriptions are only some embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent device or equivalent process transformation made by using the contents of the description and drawings of the present invention, or directly or indirectly applied in other related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A heating control method for a thermal printer combining heating time grading and data cross-combination, characterized in that: include: 1) Divide the heating time into three levels. When the heating time of the current row heating segment reaches the corresponding level, divide the heating time of the current row heating segment into corresponding equal parts to obtain the total number of heating segments and the final heating time of each segment of data. The specific steps include the following: 1.1): According to the total number of heating points of the current row of heating data and the maximum number of heating points supported by the thermal printer for single simultaneous heating, the heating data of the current row is divided into N segments of data, and the heating time T of each segment of heating data is obtained; 1.2): Compare the heating time T with the preset heating time level K1. If the heating time T exceeds the preset heating time level K1, divide the heating time of each heating data segment in the N heating data segments into four equal parts, and finally obtain the total number of heating segments C = 4 × N, where the heating time of each heating data segment is T / 4, and then execute step 2); If T does not exceed the preset heating time level K1, then go to step 1.3); 1.3): Compare the heating time T with the preset heating time level 2 K2. If the heating time T exceeds the preset heating time level 2 K2, then divide the heating time of each heating data segment in the N heating data segments into two equal parts, and finally obtain a total number of heating segments C = 2 × N, where the heating time of each heating data segment is T / 2, and then execute step 2); If T does not exceed the preset heating time level 2 K2, then each segment of data will be heated for time T in sequence until all N segments of heating data are heated; 2) According to the total number of heating sections and the final heating time of each section of data, different sections of data are cross-combined and cyclically heated until all heating sections of data are heated.

2. The heating control method of a thermal printer combining heating time grading and data cross-combination according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step 2) specifically includes the following steps: 2.1) When N=1, heat one section of data and then dissipate heat for a preset time, then heat another section of data and then dissipate heat for a preset time, and repeat this cycle until all the heating sections (C) are heated. 2.2) When N>1, the following situations are included: a) If N is an odd number and N=3, then heat data segment 1, then heat data segment 2, then heat data segment 3, and then return to data segment 1, and so on, cross-circulating heating until all the heating segments (C) are heated; b) If N is an odd number and N>3, first cross-cycle the two adjacent segments of data and heat them. Then the last 3 segments of data are heated in a cross-cycle manner. times, until the total number of heating sections C are heated; c) If N is an even number, the two adjacent segments of data are heated in a cross-cycle manner. times, until the total number of heating sections C are heated.

3. The heating control method of a thermal printer combining heating time grading and data cross-combination according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 1.1), the heating data of the current row is divided into N segments, where N is expressed as follows: N = (active_dots[PLACE2] + max_dot_num - 1) / max_dot_num; Where max_dot_num represents the maximum number of heating points supported by the thermal printer for simultaneous heating; active_dots[PLACE2] represents the total number of heating points in the current row of heating data; In N segments of data, the number of heating points in each segment is M, and the expression of M is as follows: M = (active_dots[PLACE2] + N - 1) / N.

4. The heating control method of a thermal printer combining heating time grading and data cross-combination according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second heating time level K2 = t, and the first heating time level K1 = 2t; wherein, t is the critical time that causes the print head to overheat and affects the printing effect and the life of the print head.

5. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium stores at least one instruction, at least one program, code set or instruction set, which is loaded and executed by a processor to implement the heating control method of the thermal printer with heating time grading and data cross-combination as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

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